First Ever Exhibition Game Between
Charlotte’s Top Professional & Collegiate Teams

FORT MILL, S.C. - The Charlotte Knights will host the Charlotte 49ers men’s baseball team in an exhibition game on Tuesday, April 5th at 7:15 PM at Knights Stadium. It will be a nine-inning contest with both teams using wooden bats and playing under professional baseball rules.

“The Knights are very pleased and excited to host this exhibition game with the 49ers at Knights Stadium. Coach Hibbs has built an outstanding baseball program at UNC-Charlotte and we look forward to matching up our two teams on April 5th,” Knights Vice President/General Manager Dan Rajkowski said.

The 49ers have the eighth-best winning percentage in NCAA Division I over the past five seasons. The game will count towards the team’s eligible playing dates, but the statistics will not count toward the collegiate season.

“What a great opportunity for UNC Charlotte and our baseball program,” said Charlotte head coach Loren Hibbs, in his 19th season with the program. “The Knights have been a major part of this community for years and we are very excited to enter in to a partnership with such a first class organization. I would like to thank Dan and the Chicago White Sox organization for allowing this to happen. This is a win-win situation for all of us.”

The game will be the first exhibition game the Knights have ever played against a collegiate program. The game will take place just two days before the Knights begin their 2011 regular season against the Norfolk Tides. The Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, sent nine players (five pitchers and four position players) from their Opening Day roster to Chicago over the course of the 2010 season. The Knights have had several major league players on rehab assignments over the past five years including All-Stars Jim Thome, Paul Konerko, Carlos Quentin, Joe Crede and 2007 Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy.

“This game will create a lot of excitement for both teams as well as give the community the opportunity to watch some great baseball,” Rajkowski said.

A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Charlotte 49ers baseball program. Ticket prices and information will be announced in a subsequent press release.

The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. For ticket or event information, please contact the Knights front office at (704) 357-8071 or (803) 548-8050 orclick here to purchase tickets to the UNCC exhibition game online.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.